A MOTHER-OF-TWO who committed suicide by jumping off a motorway bridge has been described as a 'beautiful person who tried to enjoy life'.

Flax Bourton Coroners Court heard how Julie Mastrogiannopoulou, of Wynter Close in Worle, had tried to take her own life by overdosing twice in the days leading up to her death.

But when that failed the 44-year-old mother-of-two jumped from the bridge by the motorway roundabout at junction 21 of the M5.

The court heard how Ms Mastrogiannopoulou, pictured above, had suffered with serious mental health problems at different times since she was a teenager.

She died from multiple injuries after jumping from the south side of the bridge over the motorway on June 2 last year and then being hit by multiple vehicles.

The court heard written evidence from witnesses at the hearing on January 19 that Ms Mastrogiannopoulou was either unconscious or had already died when she hit the carriageway.

Evidence read aloud on behalf of her mother Gill Parker at the inquest said: “Julie had been struggling with life.

“She had attempted to take her own life on many occasions.

“She had replied to my text in the normal way just 30 minutes before she jumped from the motorway bridge.”

Ms Parker added that her daughter had a breakdown in 2001 and appeared to recover, but things went down hill for her again after her divorce began in 2002 and she became unable to see her children without her ex-husband present.

In 2005 she moved to Worle and met Jason Small, who was to become a good friend and her carer.

Following this week’s inquest, where Avon assistant deputy coroner Terence Moore concluded that Ms Mastrogiannopoulou took her own life, Mr Small said: “Julie struggled through life, but managed to try and cope the best she could.

“She could make a dull room very colourful and made me very happy when I was feeling down.

“We all miss her very much.

“She was a beautiful person who tried to enjoy life.”

The inquest heard how a couple stopped their car on June 2 at about 11pm when they saw Ms Mastrogiannopoulou climb over the barriers, but despite one of them shouting to her ‘Please don’t do it’, she let go of the rails and fell to her death below.